So I’m clearly being wildly inconsistent with this weekly structure but with life being as busy, messy, tiring and difficult to plan around as it is, I have to take what I can get. So on that rare occasion that I do manage to sneak out for a run, I basically look at the weeks I’ve done and pick the run that looks good.
Today I found that precious half hour and it meant putting off pizza for just that little bit longer but it was so worth it because I get so frustrated when I miss my run and it means everything when I get to go out and do it and ultimately I get pizza at the end of it anyway.
Today I went for week 6 run 1 and I think this might be my favourite one so it will probably be my go-to until I’m able to find the time to commit to this properly again and see it through to the end.
It really has the perfect structure. Despite being massively out of practise, I didn’t want anything less than a total of 15 minutes but I certainly wasn’t ready to take on a solid 20 again either. 5, 8, 5 looked good though. A decent amount overall, broken up into manageable sections but with a good solid middle part to make it just challenging enough.
As you can tell from my reasonably positive rambling, it went pretty well.
I definitely needed it. I’ve been trying to find the chance to run every day for the last two weeks but everything just keeps clashing and the only real chances I had were way too late when I was already exhausted and drained from dadding.
Life with a newborn is good, we’re crazy about him and his older brother doesn’t hate him so we’re all off to a good start but we never really get to stop apart from a few hours in the evening when we collapse on the sofa. Now it’s even more difficult because I’ve finished my paternity leave and as much as I love my job it is not particularly energising. So a run really is a luxury right now.
But this one was just what I needed, even if it was cold and dark. I’m no stranger to night runs now but this is my first one in the cold weather and I’m not sure how best to handle this. I decided to tie my hoody round my waist while running and then wear it during the walks to keep the heat in. Is that what you’re meant to do? It seemed to work.
So I headed out, put my music on (Fratellis - my preferred summer running music and I’m nostalgic for those park runs) and got to it. Weirdly enough, the first 5 minutes was the hardest. While I didn’t quite struggle with it, I really felt it in my legs, which I guess aren’t so used to it anymore. It doesn’t help that I drive to work instead of walking now, I’m really not doing my fitness any favours! I also noticed that the cold really makes a difference and for a little while my chest got tight and painful. But by the time the first run ended I was back in the zone.
The middle 8 minutes we’re the best by far. I was feeling it, I was awake, I was a runner again. It mostly flew by although I was ready to rest after it and I don’t think I would’ve had a 9th minute in me if I’d had to carry on. Fortunately after the walk I was good to go for the last run and it did take a bit more effort but it still came pretty naturally and I felt great by the end of it.
Almost. I was very open to the idea of running a little further, which I sometimes do when I’ve got a bit more in me, ad I felt that way right up until the last 20 seconds when I stitch stabbed me in the right side. I powered through but I knew I had to end it there. Still, 18 minutes is nothing to complain about.
I really hope I can get back into a regular routine because I love doing this and I want to do it properly. For now though, I’ll just have to start and stop where I can and hope running opportunities present themselves a little more often. I really want to hear what Jo Whiley has to say in week 9.
Move over Book of Revelations...
W5R3 - Smashed it!!! 
W6R1 - did a stupid!
W5R3 done - and I found a wonderful patch of bluebells!
