I am taking great strides (mentally, not physically 🙄) in trying not to be too hard on myself, but wow, that felt like a slide back into the bad old days of hard work running. The three week 8 runs could be categorised as: fantastic, fantastic, OK. I was coming down with a virus for the OK run so there was a reason for it not being fantastic. I thought I had it sussed, people! Just go slow, concentrate on breathing easily, la di da, life’s a box of chocolates and all that jazz. I knew that a bad run would be waiting somewhere, but I thought the slow slow run might keep it at bay a while longer.
Well, it might have - had I gone slower, darn it!!! I made mistake after mistake on this one. I have been unwell, missed a day and was so determined to run today that the grey damp rain wasn’t going to stop me. I was a pepped up multi-coloured peacock about to liven up that monochromatic landscape.
The route I had planned was completely sodden so I thought I would take a footpath cross country towards the next village and turn around at the half way point. I didn’t know it but just take it slow, it’ll be fine, right?!
Somehow I confused ‘wet’ with ‘cold’ and layered up as if I was running in sub zero temperatures, complete with compression calf sleeves and socks, woolly socks, leggings over ski thermals, base layer, mid layer and jacket. Oh yes, hat, gloves and some stalwart knee supports I haven’t used for running before... why oh why?! It was 7* out there!!! I swiftly realised my mistake and considered doing a dance of the seven veils and shedding clothes as I went, but this stuff doesn’t come off without a fight. Instead I wrestled with zips and flapped about like a red-faced turkey. Whilst doing so, I stepped in a large puddle with my right foot and the woolly sock obligingly soaked up the cold water like a thirsty sponge.
The knee braces were far too clunky for running and actually, worn with the compression sleeves, were cutting off my circulation. I realised I had ‘lost’ my right foot about half way through the run (try adjusting Velcro round your knees whilst running). Why didn’t I stop?! Like Pavlov’s poor sod of a dog, I do believe I have become conditioned. I loosened them properly during the cool down walk but felt a dangerous wobble and didn’t dare take them off for fear my legs would collapse without them.
I hadn’t realised quite how hilly the route was, either. Lordy Lordy. I hit the worst of it at around 23 minutes, which I would describe as a kick in the nuts if I had them.
I actually got my phone out and (whilst running, of course) was watching the clock for the moment I could stop, which I did with a juddering halt. I leant over a fence and thought about being sick - which is when it occurred to me that I might have been going a bit too fast again... 🤔
Will I never learn?! Console me, friends...
New stuff
Wk6 run 2 done
W9 begins..... and my first 5K!!!
