It was dark this evening. Damp, cold without a frost, and no friendly moon to light a silvery path.
I set off keenly along the row of houses, each fiercely blazing with outdoor security lights. The damp chill in the air dispelled any lingering warmth from indoors and I had to force my shoulders to relax - they have a tendency to hunch when I’m cold.
I pass the last house and the light is immediately severed by two twelve foot wild hedges bordering the road, plunging me headlong into total darkness. Oh. I stop and fumble with my torch for a moment while my eyes adjust; I’d put the new batteries in the wrong way around and hadn’t noticed due to the security lights.
Finally it’s sorted and I continue, but as I reach the street-lit path, my muffin top decides to make a wholly unwelcome appearance - my leggings are falling down and my top is riding up! I pull one down, hike one up and hold them there for a few minutes of waddle-running. They stay put, briefly, but then I’m back into darkness and the muffin top rudely decides to emerge once more. It’s pale enough this time of year that even in the darkness it seems to glow!
I tuck everything back in and then find the source of the problem - the drawstring of my leggings has worked itself into a tight knot in the wash, so I can’t tighten them up any further without loosening that first. It’s hopeless trying that on the road side.
We continue, muffin and I, back into the light, where I try to hold everything, including my dignity, in place. Nobody wants to see my rolls jiggling at this time of night! But now my pace is strangely off and I get a slight stitch feeling in my chest. I slow right down, but then my calves feel a bit crampy.
I’m glad when the second interval of ten minutes is up and I can walk home. I feel a bit miserable about struggling, but park it up, bad runs will happen, it’s all about rolling with the punches! But hopefully not rolling with the muffin top next time around. 😅
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dreamrun
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Well done to you dreamrun on getting out in the dark and going a run even if it had all the problems associated with it as you describe, bad enough that happening in daylight but in the dark, ouch, hopefully, your next run will be ran without any problems whatsoever.
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one whose leggings and top decide to keep parting company 🙄 I know I shouldn't laugh, but you did give me a giggle, for which I thank you 😁
As you may or may not know, I run exclusively on a treadmill, which means my embarrassing moments are out there for all to see 😲 As a result of several such moments over the last few months, I now run in a vest and leggings with a big loose t-shirt over the top.... being still at least two stones overweight, I have an epic muffin top that even I don't want to see!!!
Good on you for carrying on regardless and may the next one be a better experience. Keep on running 🏃♀️ 😁🏃♀️
Thank you! I admire you greatly for going on the treadmill - you’re braver than I! How do you switch off from others around you? I am a terrible over thinker and think of my nighttime runs as incognito, nobody can see my tomato face…or anything else!
I have a very cool running playlist on Spotify and take a large dose of "I don't give a tossitus" whenever I go 😜
TBH, I don't take much notice of anyone else whilst I'm there: I go to run, not to impress, which is great because I'm not impressing many! Having said that, lots of the staff have congratulated me on keeping going for the past 6 months, even though the first 2/3 months was a real uphill struggle atimes, when many younger, thinner, and much more able-bodied gym users have given up and presumably gone back to their couch. Oh, and they love the fact that I sing when I'm running too - although most are far to young to remember the music I sing along to 😂😂😂😂
And the tomato face - I can REALLY relate to that....and the pouring with sweat too. Me running is not a pretty sight on any level 🥵😀🥵😀
Huge congrats at sticking at it! I think it goes to show consistency with these things is key. I will heed your words and practise not worrying about what others think - is it one of those fake it until you make it confidence things? Although I am definitely not at the singing stage yet, I do admire your confidence to do so! 😂 x
Yep, definitely a "Fake it til you make it" kinda style. Now I really don't give a flying one, but I started off thinking "What does everyone think of this hippo on a treadmill"
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First post graduation run outdoors with my new running partner :) 
OMG - F word made unwelcome appearance!!!
Week 5 Run 2 🏃♀️👍☀️
Week 6 Run 3 cancelled
