A bad night, a morning run and how running brings a little magic in to our lives! ✨🙂

[Sandraj39]

I posted this on the 'Bridge to 10k' forum after my run yesterday but thought it would be good to post it here as well - just to show that we can all struggle with getting out the door sometimes, even those of us who graduated several years ago...!

I know many of us get these little blips - especially at the moment. 😕 I didn't sleep well last night and really wasn't feeling the love for my morning run when I woke up this morning, which is a shame because I have been loving them recently. I forced myself out of bed, my head full of excuses as to why I shouldn't run, why I should have an extra rest day...(you know the way it goes!)

Anyway, after breakfast I gave myself a bit of talking to, pulled on my running kit and headed off to my local Parkrun course, which has become my new favourite place to run due to the ease with which you can socially distance from others!😷

I eased myself into the run slowly (still not feeling it!) and was soon passed by another two runners who looked a lot more comfortable than I felt. They disappeared off in to the distance - leaving me trailing in the slipstream! 😯 There also seemed to be a couple of other runners out on the course (not together) who seemed to be running their own informal, social very-distanced Parkrun! I just wanted solitude today - a quiet, 'lonely goat' type of run! I puffed on, focused on my music (thank you Jessie J 🎶) and settled into my own rhythm.

And this is where the magic ✨happens, of course! This is why we why run 💕 - away from the bad news, the worries and stresses, just for ourselves, by ourselves and ultimately, only against ourselves! My nemesis hill is still tough but does not faze me now. 💪The other runners disappeared and I was left pretty much on my own out there on the hillside, surrounded only by fields. I found my own little 'happy place' again. 🙂🌈 I always do!

I brought that sense of calm back with me after the run, along with the 3 secs (yes, they matter!) I had inadvertently knocked off my previous PB on that route! I feel grounded again.

Happy running to everyone who can, this weekend. Hope you feel the magic too! ✨✨🙂

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

That questions all my theories about run preparation, Sandra.................I had better go for a run and rethink it all.........

[Sandraj39 Graduate in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Yep...don't you just love it! 😉

[Fionamags Graduate]

Thanks for a very lovely post. Its great to hear how you slipped into a happier place during the run.

[Decker]

Lovely post Sandra. Those lonely goat runs have been much more frequent lately, but sometimes they are just what you need.