So after a longer delay than I would prefer, I finally started Week 3. Right in the middle of the week. That’s just how life is at the moment, we can’t just leave the house whenever we feel like it, we have a baby and a four year old, we can’t even get near the front door without a psychological battle over which coat he’s going to wear, yes you are so stop arguing about it or we’ll go without you.
Nevertheless I made it out and if I manage to stick strictly to the plan I can still fit a whole week of running in by the end of the week so fingers crossed for a weekend free of drama, forgotten or impromptu plans that I really really can’t afford (£12 needs to last me until payday), or just good old fashioned curveballs. At least running is free.
So after missing out yesterday due to an unavoidable social event that cost money I didn’t have and didn’t take up too much time but fell right into that sweet spot in the evening when I’m most likely to be free for a run, I managed to make it out today, on the condition that I combine my run with a trip to Tesco. That worked out well because the cool down walk led me right up to the entrance.
Before that of course I had to do the actual run and it was freezing out. I didn’t want to overdress though so stuck with the hoody and combats, which I really hope shrunk in the wash because they’re tighter than they were a few days ago...
The cold didn’t bother me too much, although my hands do not handle it well. But a brisk warm up walk took care of the rest of me, kind of hovering in that zone where you know objectively that you are cold but the heat you are generating is doing a good job and as it battled the external elements you manage to feel both simultaneously.
However when I started running, a potential problem soon made itself known. I noticed that the ground was a little slippery in places and since it was dark, I had no way of knowing where until I was on it. I should’ve suspected this would happen after spending the morning chipping my car out of a block of ice.
Fortunately it actually worked in my favour because it really helped me pace myself. When you’re focusing on running safely on a slippery surface, you take a lot of care over speed and the angle of your step and things like that. It meant I kept running, I didn’t go too fast and because I was concentrating on not falling, I was mostly able to avoid overthinking. So the run flew by and I breezed through it pretty easily.
Not that I didn’t feel it of course. I did get a little leg pain in the second half but nothing too bad and it seems whatever issues I was having before with ankle pain have gone. I think I’m settling into it a lot more nicely now, I’m definitely over that awkward speed bump you encounter when you’re first starting out. Or restarting in my case.
There’s not much to report, just a gentle, slightly skiddy run around the houses, slow enough to be safe but fast enough to take some effort, and by the end of it I was a little out of breath, I was hot and cold and I felt good about it. I love Week 3, I cant wait for the next one and I really can’t wait for Spring because I miss running in the sun.
Incidentally, does anyone have any good advice about running in the cold? How should I dress? How should I make sure I don’t get too cold or warm up too quickly after? Am I stupidly missing anything that could cause me harm? Any advice would be much appreciated. I feel good so think it went ok but I don’t want to make any mistakes here.
Oh, I ran by that flat again. The Christmas tree is down, people! That means whoever lives there is still alive or their bodies have at least been discovered by someone sensible enough to switch the lights off before leaving. No drama, no awkward people encounters, just a nice run to kick the week off.
Winter - What are you wearing for your run?
W3r1 yay I did it!
W3R1 - Bring it on!
W3r1 I did it! With an audience!
W3R1
